Gas and fluid separator



Feb. 13, 1934. H. A. WARD GAS AND FLUID SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

War d ATTORNEYS.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. A. WARD GAS AND FLUID SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 3, 1931 Feb. 13, 1934.

A INVENTOR. Ha PP} I A. War [1 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITE STATES FFECE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to separators and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted for use in either a gas or a steam line for the purpose of automatically separating the fluid from the gas or steam and automatically extracting the fluid from the pipe line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction for self-controlled gas and fluid separators embodying improved float valve means wherein friction is reduced to a minimum and thus insuring opening of the valve to permit escape of fluid from the separator.

A further object of the invention resides in the arrangement whereby a uniform buoyancy of the float is maintained regardless of the change in pressure within the separator, and the arrangement whereby fluid accumulating within the hollow float is automatically extracted thru a drop in pressure upon the outside of the float. V

A still further object resides in the novel arrangement for preventing collapsing of the float by maintaining an even pressure in the float and gas chambers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming va part of this specification and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section thru the improved separator and showing the float in its lowered position, the sections being taken on the line 1--1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the float in a raised position to permit escape of fluid from the separator.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section thru the separator.

In the drawings and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the device comprises an upright cylindrical shell or casings being closed at its top and bottom and provided at its lower end'with a drain pipe 6. The drain pipe 6 is provided with a valve '7 and this valve drain pipe aside from providing means for testing the apparatus, also serves as means to rid the casing of heavy substances accumulating in .the lower end of the casing. Y

Fixed within the upright casing 5 is an open frame preferably constructed of strap iron and including a pair of side bars 8 extended vertically along the inner surface of the casing. Connecting the upper ends of the side bars 8 is an upper guide rail 9 which extends diametrically across the casing 5, while connecting the side bars at a location slightly above the lower ends of the bars is a lower guide rail 10 which also extend diametrically across the casing. Connecting the lower ends of the side bars 8 is a supporting rail 11 and this rail 11 is arranged in spaced relation directly below the lower guide rail 10.

Mounted in the supporting frame between the upper and lower guide rails 9 and 10 respectively is a cylindrical shaped float 12 formed with conoidal ends. This hollow float 12 is preferably made of sheet metal and is of a length slightly less than the distance between the guide rails 9 and 10 which serve as movement limiting means for the float. Extended axially thru the float 12 is a tubular float guide 14. The ends or the float guide tube l l extend beyond the ends of the float and are sealed thereto in any preferred manner. lfhe upper protruding end of the guide tube 14 has a free sliding fit thru an opening in the upper guide rail 9, while the lower protruding end of the guide tube has a free sliding fit thru an opening provided in the lower guide rail 10. Thus the protruding ends of the guide tube 14 serve to vertically guide the float in the supporting frame.

Opening into the upper portion of the casing 5 is a supply or gas pipe 15 thru which the mixture of gas and fluid is delivered to the separator at a point spaced above the float l2. Projecting into the upper portion of the casing 5 in diametric alignment with the inlet pipe 15 is a gas outlet pipe 16 for escape of gas from the upper portion of the casing. Supported upon the inner end of thegas outlet pipe 16 is a dome or inverted cup-shaped gas trap or hood 1'! having its lower open end extended below the inlet pipe 15. This dome-shaped hood 17 has a shape conforming to the upper end of the casing 5 andis of such size that its outer surface spaced slightly'from the inner surface of the casing. The hood 1'? aside from forming a trap for the gasalso serves to distribute the gas and liquid mixture entering thru the pipe 6.

Secured centrally'of the supporting rail 11 is an internally threaded, vertically disposed sleeve 18 having its upper end opening thru the supporting rail. Threaded into the lower end of the sleeve 18 is a nipple 19 to the lower end of which is connected a horizontally disposed fluid CPI outlet or discharge pipe 20 which projects thru the wall of the casing 5. This discharge pipe 20 also serves to support the frame carrying the float valve means within the tubular casing. From Figure 3 it will be seen that the internally threaded coupling sleeve 18 is mounted in axial alignment with the float guide tube 14.

Threaded at its lower end into the upper end of the coupling sleeve 18 is a valve guide tube 22 which is counter-bored as at 23 below the series of openings 24. Vertically guided in the tube 22 is a valve stem 25 having a conicalshaped lower end for engaging upon a valve seat 26 provided on the upper side of a ground steel disc 27 held in the coupling sleeve 18 between the nipple l9 and guide tube 22. The valve seat 26 is formed at the upper end of an opening 28 thru the disc 27 and this opening 28 provides communication between the valve tube guide 22 and the discharge pipe 20 when the valve stem 25 is raised. A gasket 29 preferably formed of lead, is placed beneath the disc 2'? to provide a pressure tight connection and prevent escape of fluid other than thru the opening 28.

The upper end of the valve stem 25 extends into the lower end or the float guide tube 14 and is pivotally connected thereto as by a suitable pivot bolt or pin 30 and this pivotal connection of the valve stem to the float guide tube is to permit better seating of the valve stem upon the seat 26. In order to permit slight lateral movement of the valve stem 25, the internal diameter of the upper portion of the guide tube 22 is slightly greater than the diameter of the valve stem and the pivot pin or bolt 30 has a slight amount of play in the opening thru the upper end of the valve stem.

Supported upon the upper guide rail 9 is an inverted cup-shaped float shield 32 having a conoidal-shaped upper or top side and a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the float 12. This float shield 32 serves to shield the float 12 from solid substances entering the casing 5 and also provides a gas or steam pocket over the open upper end of the float guide tube 14 and prevents fluid from dropping into the float guide tube.

Provided in the lower portion of the float guide tube 14 directly above the lower end wall of the float 12 is a series of openings 36 providing communication between the guide tube and the interior of the float. Thus the openings 36 provide communication between the casing 5 and interior of the float 12 thru the float guide tube 14. The float guide tube 14 may be sealed adjacent its lower end by a suitable plug or plate 38 and this closure 38 as will be observed in Figure 3 is arranged below the openings 36. With this arrangement the pressure on the inside of the float will be equalized with that on the outside of the float and prevent collapsing of the float.

Fluid entering the float 12 thru the tube 14 and openings due to condensation or other causes will eventually build up a column of liquid in the tube and this column of water in the tube will be supported by the pressure above a small amount of fluid in the lower portion of the float. The small amount of liquid entering the float chamber would not be surflcient to effect the buoyancy of the float. Under varying pressures of the mixture entering the casing 5 thru the supply pipe 15, when a drop in pressure occurs in the casing 5, the pressure within the float 12 will cause the fluid in the float guide tube 14 to be expelled thru the open upper end of the tube into the casing 5. Thus it will be seen that slight variations of pressure in the casing 5 acts to automatically extract fluid from the float chamber.

In operation, functioning of the float 12 will be governed by the rising and lowering of the fluid in the casing 5 to cause opening and closing of the valve for escape of the fluid thru the discharge pipe 20.

The casing 5 may be provided adjacent its lower end with a suitable inspection cap 40 arranged to permit inspection of the valve means and the renewing of parts should such become necessary.

Thus it will be seen that a novel and improved construction for separators of this char-- acter has been provided embodying float controlled valve means of such simplified construction as to remain in proper working condition over a considerable period of time. It will also be apparent that a novel arrangement has been disclosed whereby fluid accumulating within the float chamber is automatically extracted from the float chamber thru a drop in pressure within the separator casing.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas and fluid separator the combination with a casing having a supply inlet and gas and fluid outlets, of a frame mounted in the casing, a float, a tube vertically guided in the frame and extending thru the float, said tube being open at its upper end and having openings communicating with the lower interior of the float, a fluid discharge opening providing a valve seat, and a valve stem carried by the lower end of said tube for engaging upon said seat to com trol discharge of fluid thru the fluid outlet.

2. In a gas and fluid separator, the combination of a casing, a supply inlet, and a gas outlet in the upper portion of the casing, a frame mounted in the casing, a guide tube vertically guided in the frame and being closed at its lower portion, a hollow float carried by and encircling the guide tube, said guide tube having openings communicating with the lower portion of the float, fluid outlet means for the lower portion of the casing, an apertured disc providing communication between the casing and fluid outlet, a valve stem carried by the lower end of said tube for controlling passage of fluid thru the aperture in said disc, and guide means for the valve stem.

3. In a gas and fluid separator, the combination with a casing having a supply inlet and gas and fluid outlets, of an open frame mounted in the casing including upper and lower guide rails, a hollow float arranged between the guide rails, a guide tube carried by and extending axially thru the float with the ends of the tube projecting beyond the ends of the float and having sliding movement in said guide rails, said tube being closed adjacent its lower end and having openings communicating with the lower portion of the float, an apertured disc providing L a valve seat, the aperture thru said disc forming communication between the casing and fluid outlet, a valve stem having a loose connection at its upper end with the lower end of said tube and engageable at its-lower end upon said seat and a guide tube for the valve stem.

4. In a gas and fluid separator including a casing having a supply inlet and a gas outlet, of a frame mounted in the casing and including upper and lower guide rails and a supporting rail spaced below the lower guide rail, a hollow float arranged between the guide rails, a float guide tube extending thru the float and having its ends slidable thru the guide rails, said tube being closed adjacent its lower end and having apertures opening into the lower portion of the float, a coupling sleeve carried by the supporting rail in axial alignment with said tube, a disc mounted in the coupling sleeve and having an aperture therethru providing a valve seat, a fluid outlet pipe for the casing and connected to the lower end of the coupling sleeve, a valve guide tube threaded into the upper end of the coupling sleeve and having a counter-bored lower portion and apertures in the counter-bored portion, a valve stem guided in the valve guide tube for engaging upon said sleeve upon lowering of the stem, and means connecting the upper end of the valve stem to the lower end of said float guide tube with a loose joint fit.

5. In a gas and fluid separator including a casing and a fluid outlet, a frame mounted in the casing, a hollow float, a float guide tube extended vertically thru the center of the float and sealed thereto, said tube having its ends projecting beyond the float and guided in said frame, means closing the lower end of the tube, apertures in the tube immediately above the lower wall of the float, and valve means including a valve stem carried by the lower end of the tube for controlling discharge of fluid thru the fluid outlet.

6. In a gas and fluid separator the combination of a vertically disposed casing, a supply inlet opening into the upper portion of the casing, a gas outlet in the upper portion of the casing, a fluid outlet pipe in the lower portion of the casing, valve means for controlling discharge of fluid thru the fluid outlet pipe and including a valve stem, a hollow float vertically guided in the casing and having direct connection to said valve stem, a vent tube providing communication between the lower portion of the float and the casing at a location above the upper end of the float, a shield supported in the casing above the plate, and a gas trap in the upper portion of the casing in communication with the gas outlet.

7. In a gas and fluid separator including a casing having a fluid outlet, a pair of upper and lower guide rails mounted in vertically spaced relation in the casing, a hollow float in the casing between the guide rails, a float guide tube 5.-

extended vertically through the center of the float and sealed thereto, said tube having its ends projecting beyond the float and guided in said guide rails, means closing the lower end of the tube, said tube having apertures therein immediately above the lower wall of the float, and valve means operable by the float for controlling discharge of fluid through the fluid outlet.

HARRY A. WARD. 

